PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Three individuals made initial appearances in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, charged with allegedly trafficking cocaine shipped to Rhode Island from Puerto Rico through the United States Postal Service, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
May Rosario, 27, Patri Hiciano Felix, 24, and Rafael Fleury Munoz, 22, of Providence, are charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine; possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine; and unlawful use of a communication facility (including the mail) to facilitate the distribution of a controlled substance.
It is alleged in charging documents that on March 26, 2022, a United States Postal Service carrier was approached by a male seeking to take custody of a Priority Express parcel she was preparing to deliver to a Providence residence. It is alleged that the male, who refused to provide an ID to the carrier, showed the postal carrier a photo of the package, claiming that the package had been sent to him. The carrier refused to provide the package to the man and left the area, taking the package with her. As she drove away, the male began to follow her in his vehicle.
It is further alleged that two days later, authorities became aware that a single individual or device was tracking the delivery of a package addressed to a Johnston residence. As Rhode Island State Police surveilled the Johnston location, they saw a vehicle slowly drive through the area twice. It is alleged that moments after the package was delivered to the front porch of the residence, a person ran out from behind the building to the front porch and then entered the building. About twenty minutes later, the same vehicle that the State Police surveillance team saw driving through the area earlier in the day reappeared. It is alleged that the person previously seen running into the building ran back out with the Priority Mail Parcel and got into the vehicle, which then drove away. A State Police cruiser nearby stopped the vehicle. It is alleged that the package delivered to the Johnston residence was found on the floor of the vehicle, and that Rosario, Hiciano Felix, and Fleury Munoz were inside the car.
A court-authorized search of the package seized in Johnston was found to contain 1.07 kilograms of cocaine; the package addressed to the Providence residence was found to contain 1.15 kilograms of cocaine. It is alleged that the Postal Carrier in Providence identified Rosario as the person who attempted to retrieve a package from her on March 26.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
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